The advantages to the skill based ranking system are numerous but the most obvious benefit is that players will receive a national and state ranking based solelyon their performance against other players. Click the Men's Rankings or the Women's Rankings links in the left side menu to view the rankings.

Note: Results that require changes can only be submitted for ranking adjustments if submitted within 2 months of the original event.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What if my name is not on the ranking list? It simply means you have not had any matches sent in to the USAR or the ranking program directly, to be included. Once you participate in a sanctioned event AND the tournament director sends in the results you will be ranked. Please contact the tournament director to see if this has been done.

Will the USAR still use only matches from the quarters on? No, every match of every event will be included in the new ranking system. Doubles are not ranked yet but will be in the near future.

What about forfeits? Forfeits, that occur during a match will count. For example, if an injury default occurs during your match. If a match is never started then it will not be sent in for processing.

Do game points matter? No – the ranking is compiled simply on who wins and who loses.

If I play in 35’s, how will my results be scored? It makes no difference what division or age group that you play in but simply the skill level (ranking) of the player you are playing. Everyone will have a ranking from the #1 player to the #20,000 player. You will be able to pull out all 35+ players from the ranking list and see how you match up against others in your age group.
Example: Though Ruben usually plays Pro he does play age group at some elite events such as National Singles. He is over 50 so he shows up in the +50 age group. He is not yet 55 so he does not show up in the +55. It should be noted that he can also show up in the +45 as he is eligible to play in any lower age group (as is everybody) below his down to +20. The ranking now makes tournaments easier to seed as the tournament director can easily locate where he would be if he, say, entered the +40 at a tournament.

How were the initial baseline rankings formulated? The 2003 Nationals, U.S. Open, and some state rankings were used as a guide and players were simply ranked one through -? This was a very rough estimate of ability and there were discrepancies, but differences are working themselves out. We simply needed some starting point and now the more matches we enter the better the system will be.

How will we be able to see our rankings? The ranking system allows you to pull up your current ranking and see your present ranking, last ranking and positions moved. You can also display your age group and your state ranking list. Many other sorts and searches are also available to you.

How will the tournament directors assure that all players get ranked? The tournament directors (in many cases the state directors) are responsible for submitting all tournament results. Specific draw sheets, including all matches, are being sent to the USAR for verification of membership and then submitted to our ranking director for tabulation of rankings. The ranking director processes the tournament result files and USAR web pages are automatically updated. A list of tournaments that have been processed are shown on the USAR web site. If the tournament you played in is not processed within a maximum of two weeks (time may be required to verify memberships that have to be delivered to national office by snail mail after the tournament is completed) contact the tournament director to verify that the results were sent in. If they were then email national office to continue your inquiry.

What if the tournament directors do not want the new ranking system? All sanctioned events must report memberships and results within 14 days after the event. Draw sheets will be posted to the ranking system and all players in the events will be ranked. If events are not sanctioned - of course players will not be ranked.

Will doubles be ranked? Yes, doubles teams will be ranked. Start date to be announced.

Why are pros and foreign players ranked? All players who participate in sanctioned events and are USAR members are ranked. This is a designated benefit of being a USAR member and available to all members.

How do I know where the A player ranking begins? The USAR will arbitrarily determine the ranking position cut-off for A, B, C etc. divisions for national office run events. State associations will be able to print out their state rankings from the National rankings and thendetermine their own point cut-off for the different divisions. The individual state setting of cut-off points for their local tournaments is beneficial as an low to mid level “A” player in one state may only have the skill level of an upper level “B” player in a stronger state and would need to be seeded as such if they if they played in another states tournament.

Will I be able to see how I rank against just the players in my state? Yes, a report is available that indicates rankings by state name. This report can also be sorted to include lists for male, female, junior male, junior female, and age group by gender.

How do I obtain an initial ranking? Players enter the system the first time they play a registered match whether they win or lose.

How do I move up in the rankings? Win a match against a better-ranked player in the system. Wins against players ranked worse than you do not help you move up the rankings. The computer stores your best previous win and if in a specified amount of time you beat another, better ranked player, or the same better ranked player, you will immediately move up the rankings. See the example at the bottom of the page.

How fast can I move up in the rankings? Based on your present ranking, your opponents ranking, your last posted best win, the time since their last win and the time restrictions placed on the system by USAR’s ranking committee, you will move up the rankings. If you are within the time limit allowed, you may move 1, 15, 100 or event hundreds of positions at a time. Your present ranking and the player ranking of your previous recorded wins will dictate this movement. You are able to very quickly move up so that your ranking will reflect accurately your ability level.

What happens if lose to a more poorly ranked player? Dependent on that players previous win history one of two things can happen. You may stay right where you are in the rankings or you will move down only one position. You will not fall below any other players on the rankings due to this loss..

Are there separate rankings for both men and women? Yes, matches played are not mixed together therefore when two males or two females play the matches are ranked in the appropriate lists. Mixed gender matches are not ranked.

Example:
You are presently ranked 325
Your previous best win is player ranked 150

Scenario 1You defeat the player at ranking 180
You will immediately be ranked 180 and player 180 moves to 181

Scenario 2You defeat the player at ranking 120
You immediately move to 150 (your previous best win)a new best win of 120 is stored

NOTE: If you do not defeat anyone better than you (ie your previous best win of 325)within a specified amount of time (normally 13 months) then this best win will be eliminated (considered a fluke) and your best win will be reset to the rank that you are presently at, in this case 325.

As can be seen a player can move many ranking positions instantly but there is a check to stop movement if the player's previous best win is determined to be well above their consistent skill level.